LIFT

When you meet Austin Cole, you are immediately drawn to his energy.  Looking more like a retired football player, than the truck driver that he is, he greets you with a smile and makes you feel like you are an old friend.  Meeting Mr. Cole, you would never think that just a couple of years ago this single father had been homeless sleeping in his car with his son.

Frederick Mack had fallen on hard times after being forced to take time off from his job. When he was ready to return to the workforce, he discovered that the employment landscape had changed drastically. Despite having 35 years of experience in food service, including positions as a sous chef in DC's top restaurants, Mr. Mack could not land a job.

After years of bouncing between jobs and struggling with drug addiction, Anthony Johnson had completed drug therapy and rehabilitation and had worked hard to maintain his spot at a transitional housing facility.  He was ready to get his life back on track with a new job, but was worried that his spotty employment record, previous incarceration, and drug history would make it impossible for an employer to want to hire him.  Community partners at the Perry School referred Anthony to LIFT-DC.

When Phyllis Newman walked into LIFT-DC, she had just missed another payment on her mortgage and was dreading the thought of losing her home. With no job and no income, she couldn’t afford to keep her house, but with three grandchildren to support, losing her home was not an option.

College/ University: Howard University, c/o 2014
Major: Psychology

When Bishara Addison first read a description of LIFT-DC at a community service fair, she was reminded of a passage from Desmond Tutu from her coursework at George Washington University.  In it, he discussed the concept of Ubuntu, meaning, “My humanity is caught up and inextricably bound in yours.”  She knew that Ubuntu could be found in LIFT’s model of bridging university and urban communities to combat poverty and expand opportunity, and she wanted to be not only a part of it, but a leader in it.

Collin Stevenson was already a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, a cross-country captain, and an Alternative Spring Break leader, when he discovered LIFT-DC. While promoting the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program at an involvement fair at George Washington University, he saw a table for LIFT and had to be a part of the organization.  Now, after over a year volunteering with LIFT-DC, he promotes LIFT at ASB meetings to encourage others to get involved in their community year-round.